U'khand Govt mulls Char Dham Yatra in winters too

The Uttarakhand government is mulling to continue Char Dham (pilgrimage to four shrines) in winters too. As of now shrines are open thrown for pilgrims six months in a year. Chief Minister Harish Rawat has asked officials to check out possibilities for running pilgrimage in winters too.

Rawat who held meeting with the officials on Wednesday claimed Char Dham pilgrimage was going on smoothly.

"We have made adequate arrangements, stocked enough ration for pilgrims. Hopefully next year we will be able to run pilgrimage smoothly" Rawat later told reporters. He added Char Dham pilgrimage is lifeline for thousand of peoples.

"Officials should find ways how to run pilgrimage in winters" he added.

The state has witnessed steep fall in the numbers of pilgrims visiting Char Dham's this year. Official figures suggest more than 5 thousand were killed after the last year June flashfloods. The horrifying tale of survivors apparently forced pilgrims to stay in home this time. The number of pilgrims that visited Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamnotri and Gangotri has hardly crossed 1 lakh this year by now. Previously the number of pilgrims would reach upto 30 lakhs.

Chief Minister clarified that Char Dham pilgrimage has not been cancelled and only suspended for some time.

Meanwhile concerned with the sluggish pace of tourists arrival in state, government has decide to organize 'tourism investment meet' on 27 September – on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The investors from around the globe will be invited to participate in the event.